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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wichita State
Carolina Falls To No. 25 Wichita State 3-1
September 4, 2009 | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2009
WICHITA, KAN. - After controlling the first set of the match, Carolina dropped the next three to fall 3-1 to No.25 Wichita State. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland led the Tar Heels with 10 kills as Suzanne Haydel added nine kills and 14 digs. Redshirt sophomore Courtney Johnston set a new career high in the match with 19 digs, eclipsing her old mark of 16. Also claiming a new career high in digs was libero Aleksandra Georgieva posting 17 digs. Wichita State was paced by Amanda Backes 16 kills and Melissa Granville's 27 digs. No.25 Wichita State improves to 3-1 as the Tar Heels fall to 1-3 on the year. The Shockers and Heels played in front of 2445 fans at Charles Koch Arena.
Carolina came out the gates strong early courtesy of two Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland kills and a big Heather Brooks block to command a 5-1 lead. The Shockers cut the lead to 9-6 after a pair of Emily Stockman kills. Carolina continued its strong play jumping out to a 14-8 lead before a Shocker timeout. Four Carolina points later led to yet another Chris Lamb timeout. An 8-3 Wichita State run cut the score to 21-16 before a timely Joe Sagula timeout. The Tar Heels were able to close out the set 25-20. Suzanne Haydel and Hanson-Tuntland each posted five kills in the opening set, while Branagan Fuller paced the defense with eight digs.
The second set got off to a different start with the Shockers building a 6-2 lead behind Emily Stockman's serves, which led to a Carolina timeout. Emily McGee registered a pair of quick kills to get the Tar Heels back on track. A 7-1 Shocker run stretched the lead to 15-5, before yet another Joe Sagula timeout. The Shockers continued to mount a 16-5 lead behind Sarah Waldorf's three straight serve assists. Carolina battled back to cut the lead to six at 22-16, but the Shockers proved to be too much claiming the set 25-17.
The third set proved much closer, Wichita controlled the first part of the frame to a 8-4 score, before a Megan Owens kill and a Hanson-Tuntland serve ace cut the score to 8-6. Haydel and Hanson-Tuntland both notched a couple kills to cut the lead to 16-13, before two more Shocker kills lead to a Carolina timeout at 18-13. Five Carolina points later sliced the lead to three at 21-18 before a Wichita State timeout. The Shockers were able to close out the tight third set 25-21. The Shockers posted 13 kills in the third as the Tar Heels were led by Courtney Johnston's nine digs.
After zero lead changes in the first three sets, the fourth set saw at least two. The Shockers continued their solid play up 5-2 before Carolina roared back to claim a 6-5 lead behind a Haydel serve ace. Wichita State answered back with a 7-0 to stretch the score to 12-6, before a Johnston kill. The Shockers hit at a very high percentage in the fourth set, jumping out to a 21-10 lead. Wichita State finished off the Tar Heels 25-14.
Carolina is now 1-1 all-time against Wichita State. The only meeting between the two teams prior to tonight was Sept. 6, 1999 in Chapel Hill, N.C. and the Tar Heels won in five sets. The Heels have a quick turnaround tomorrow playing two matches; one at 10:00 a.m. against Oklahoma and one at 5:00 p.m. against Grambling State. Stay tuned to tarheelblue.com for more updates.
